The world's smallest carnivore — adult males weigh only 1.5–2 ounces. Despite their size, they kill voles and mice many times their own weight, sometimes consuming over a third of their body weight in a day.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The least weasel, little weasel, common weasel, or simply weasel is the smallest member of the genus Mustela, family Mustelidae and order Carnivora. It is native to Eurasia, North America and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Malta, Crete, the Azores, and São Tomé. It is classified as least concern by the IUCN, due to its wide distribution and large population throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Eighteen subspecies are recognised.
Source: Wikipedia — Least weasel Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Tiny weasel with brown back and pale belly; very short tail without black tip.
Similar species. Other small weasels. Short-tailed Weasel (black tail tip).
Voice. High-pitched squeaks.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Voles, mice, shrews, occasional eggs.
Behavior. Smallest carnivore in the world. Among the most voracious mammals relative to body size.
§ Range
Canada, northern US, scattered through Appalachians
§ Habitat
Grasslands, marshes, brushy fields, forest edges
§ Threats
Habitat loss (grasslands, brushy field margins), rodenticide poisoning, secondary impacts of pesticide-driven prey decline.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the least weasel is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Maintain grassland and brushy edges. Skip rodenticides. Support no-till and IPM agriculture.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Least weasel
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Mustela nivalis
- IUCN Red List · taxon 14025
- iNaturalist · taxon 41788
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Mustela nivalis
§ Sources cited
- American Society of Mammalogists
- IUCN Red List 2016
